The Dublin, Ohio, company said Thursday that AssuraMed serves more than a million patients and generated sales of about $1 billion in 2012. It said the privately held Twinsburg, Ohio, company is a natural extension of its businesses and also will help it serve ambulatory care locations like doctor's offices.

Cardinal Health Inc. will pay $2.07 billion for AssuraMed, or $1.94 billion not counting tax benefits it will receive from the deal. It will pay for the acquisition using $1.3 billion in new senior unsecured notes and $770 million in cash. The company said it has received a commitment letter from BofA Merrill Lynch for the loan.

Cardinal expects the deal to close in April.

Company shares climbed 81 cents to $46.25 per share in premarket trading after Cardinal announced the deal.